Mop swab and mop

ABSTRACT

A mop swab is disclosed which comprises a plurality of individual cords of suitably absorbent material of finite lengths, wherein adjacent cords are interwoven with each other at a plurality of intermittent points along their respective lengths to define a reticular pattern.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is related to, and claims the benefit ofpriority from, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No.60/348,798, filed Jan. 15, 2002.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to mops, and moreparticularly to a mop swab comprising a plurality of individual cords ofsuitably absorbent material, each cord having a finite length, andwherein adjacent cords of material are interwoven with each other at aplurality of intermittent points along their respective lengths todefine a reticular, or net-like, pattern.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Mops and mop swabs are well known and have been the subject ofnumerous improvements over the years. Conventional swabs for mops of allvarieties have for years been comprised of numerous individual cords ofsuitably absorbent material, such as cotton, chamois, etc., theseindividual cords of material being bundled at least at one end andconnected to the handle of a mop to define the desired mop swab shape.The mops disclosed by Yates et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,338, showing awet mop the swab of which is characterized by a plurality of fibrouscords freely depending from the end of a mop handle, and Monahan, U.S.Pat. No. 5,577,290, showing a self-wringing type mop wherein the strandsof material are joined both to an end of a mop handle and to a tubularsleeve disposed on the mop handle, are exemplary. Unfortunately, thenumerous individual cords of material found in prior art mop swabs areprone to becoming bunched and entangled during mopping and wringing.This yields a mop with both an undesirably untidy appearance, and withcompromised functionality.

[0004] One solution to the foregoing problem has been to interconnectadjacent cords of the mop swab with ties, such as shown in thedisclosures of Bakemeier, U.S. Pat. No. 2,230,101, and Jumonville, U.S.Pat. No. 1,936,433. Unfortunately, the mops of the Bakemeier andJumonville patents, while more beneficial than prior art mop swabs moresimply comprising individual, unconnected cords of material, arenevertheless not as economical to manufacture by reason of the extramanufacturing cost and time associated with the necessity ofinterconnecting the adjacent cords at numerous points with the separateties.

[0005] Notwithstanding the various improvements in the prior art, thereconsequently continues to exist the need for a simple mop swab which canat once be economically manufactured, while also avoiding the tanglingproblem associated with prior art mop swabs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention addresses and solves the problems discussedabove, and encompasses other features and advantages, by providing a mopswab comprising a plurality of individual cords of suitably absorbentmaterial of finite lengths, wherein adjacent cords are interwoven witheach other at a plurality of intermittent points along their respectivelengths to define a reticular pattern. The resulting mop swab is botheconomical to manufacture, requiring no additional elements tointerconnect adjacent cords of the mop swab, as well as suitablyresistant to entanglement of the individual cords defining the reticularpattern.

[0007] According to one feature of this invention, each of theindividual cords of the mop swab is interwoven with a first adjacentcord at a plurality of intermittent points along the length thereof, andfurther interwoven with a second adjacent cord at a plurality ofintermittent points along the length thereof, and wherein further theplurality of intermittent points alternate between the first and secondadjacent cords along the length of each individual cord.

[0008] Each individual cord may, according to a further feature of thisinvention, consist essentially of a single strand of absorbent materialor, alternatively, consist essentially of a plurality of strands ofabsorbent material which are intertwined to define a unitary materialelement. Per the latter embodiment, the mop swab is characterized inthat one or more of the plurality of strands of absorbent material ofadjacent cords are interwoven at the plurality of intermittent pointsalong their respective lengths to define the reticular pattern of themop swab.

[0009] According to one feature hereof, a mop swab of the inventive typeis connected to a mop comprising a handle with first and second ends.The mop may, per one embodiment, be of the self-wringing type,comprising a sleeve rotatably and slidably disposed on the handle, andthe swab being both connected to the sleeve and connected to one of thefirst and second ends of the handle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Other objects, features and advantages of the present inventionwill become apparent upon reference to the following description anddrawings, in which:

[0011]FIG. 1 depicts the mop swab in combination with a self-wringingtype mop;

[0012]FIG. 2 is a detailed illustration showing a representative portionof a mop swab according to the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 3 is a detailed illustration showing an exemplaryinterweaving of the adjacent cords of a mop swab according to thepresent invention; and

[0014]FIG. 4 is a detailed illustration showing a second exemplaryinterweaving of the adjacent cords of the mop swab of the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

[0015] Referring now to the drawings generally, wherein like numeralsindicate like or corresponding parts, the improved mop swab of thepresent invention is shown and described in combination with aself-wringing mop of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,875,509, thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. As shown inFIG. 1, this type of mop most basically comprises a mop swab 10 havingthe opposite longitudinal ends thereof fixed, respectively, to a mophandle 20 and to a sleeve 30 that is rotatably and slidably disposed onthe mop handle. By manually moving the sleeve 30 longitudinally in thedirection of the arrow A towards an end of the mop handle 20 to whichone end of the mop swab 10 is fixed, the opposite ends of the mop swab10 are brought closer together, causing the swab 10 to flare radiallyoutwardly and so to define a condition that is suitable for mopping.Conversely, and as also shown in FIG. 1, manually moving the sleeve 30oppositely along the mop handle 20 in the direction of the arrow Bstretches the mop swab 10 longitudinally so that it may be wrung dry bythereafter rotating the sleeve 30 about the longitudinal axis of thehandle 20. But while the mop swab 10 of this invention is shown incombination with the particular type of mop as described above, theparticularized description in this written specification is not meant tobe limiting of the scope of this invention as set out in the appendedclaims, and it will be appreciated from the remainder of this disclosurethat the present invention has utility in combination with numerousmops, including of conventional design.

[0016] Referring next to FIG. 2, the mop swab of this invention will beseen to comprise a plurality of individual, separate cords 11, 12, 13,etc. of suitably absorbent material, each cord 11, 12, 13, etc. having afinite length, and adjacent cords, such as 11, 12 and 13, beinginterwoven with each other at a plurality of intermittent points alongtheir respective lengths to define a reticular, or net-like, pattern. Byinterweaving the individual cords 11, 12, 13, etc. as described in moredetail herein, it will be appreciated that the present inventioneliminates the need to tie adjacent cords of the mop swab together witha separate tie element, such as taught in connection with prior art mopsas discussed.

[0017] As used herein, the term “cord” means and refers to the separateabsorbent material elements (reference numerals 11, 12, 13, etc.) of themop swab which are interwoven to make up the reticular pattern of themop swab, and therefore that term comprehends such material elementsthat are each comprised of a single strand of absorbent material, suchas shown in FIG. 4, or multiple strands of such absorbent materialintertwined to define an unitary material element, such as shown best inFIG. 3.

[0018] In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3, the mop swab issubstantially comprised of a plurality of individual cords 11, 12, 13,etc. each consisting of two separate strands 11′, 11″, 12′, 12″, 13′,13″, etc. of a suitably absorbent material that are intertwined todefine a unitary whole. These separate strands of material of each cordare knitted together in a chain-like pattern wherein the two separatestrands of material are formed into alternating loops that areinterconnected with each other. Of course, the particular manner ofintertwining the separate strands 11′, 11″, 12′, 12″, 13′, 13″, etc. toform each cord 11, 12, 13, etc. is exemplary only, and it is certainlycontemplated by this disclosure that, where each such cord is comprisedof two or more separate strands, these separate strands may beintertwined in any suitable pattern and according to any known means,including, without limitation, knitting, braiding, etc.

[0019] According to the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, wherein themop swab 10 is shown in combination with a mop of the self-wringingvariety, the length of each separate cord thereof is preferablysufficient so that, when interwoven with the other cords of the swab 10in the desired reticular pattern, the thus completed swab 10 will becapable of transition between the extended and flared conditionsdescribed above.

[0020] As indicated, the individual cords 11, 12, 13, etc. comprisingthe mop swab 10 are comprised of suitably absorbent material, such as awoven or non-woven fabric of any of the numerous kinds known in the art,including synthetic and natural materials. Though not intended as anexhaustive list, materials that may be employed in formation of thecords of the mop swab of this invention include natural fibers, forinstance cotton and wool, and polymers, such as polyester, polyurethane,or polyether. In the invention as illustrated, the cords are made up ofmultiple strands each comprising a length of cotton yarn.

[0021] Referring particularly to FIG. 3, which depicts in detail theintersection between adjacent interwoven cords 11 and 12, the manner inwhich the individual cords of the mop swab of this invention, eachcomprising multiple strands of absorbent material, may be interwoven ina desired reticular pattern is more clearly shown in a first exemplaryembodiment. More particularly, a single strand of material 11′ from afirst cord 11 is woven together with the strand or strands 12′, 12″ ofmaterial comprising a second, adjacent cord 12 along a continuous,discrete length. In turn, a single strand 12′ of material from thesecond, adjacent cord 12 is woven together with the strand or strands11′, 11″ of material comprising the first cord 11 along the samecontinuous, discrete length. By exchanging strands of material betweenadjacent cords, and interweaving these strands with the other strand orstrands of the adjacent cords, these adjacent cords are securely boundtogether along the discrete length.

[0022] In the illustrated form of the mop swab shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,each individual cord is interwoven with a first adjacent cord at aplurality of intermittent points along the length thereof, and furtherinterwoven with a second adjacent cord at a plurality of intermittentpoints along the length thereof, this plurality of intermittent pointsalternating between the first and second adjacent cords along the lengthof each individual cord to yield the particular reticular pattern asshown. This pattern is more particularly characterized by interweavingadjacent cords, such as 11 and 12, on one side at a first series ofintermittent points P₁, and along the opposite side by interweavingadjacent cords, such as 12 and 13, at a series of intermittent points P₂defined intermediate the first series of points P₁. According to thisarrangement, each cord 11, 12, 13, etc. is characterized by a zig-zagpattern.

[0023] Of course, the particular manner of interweaving adjacent cords11, 12, 13, etc. shown and described is not meant to be limiting of themop swab 10 of this invention, and it will certainly be appreciated bythose skilled in the art that other interwoven arrangements of the cordsare possible, depending upon such considerations as the number ofstrands of absorbent material comprising each cord, as well as userpreference. Thus, for example, in a mop swab according to this inventionwherein the cords each comprise a single strand of absorbent material,adjacent cords may be interwoven simply by looping adjacent cords 11,12, 13, etc. about each other, such as shown in FIG. 4. Likewise, itwill be appreciated that the particular reticular pattern of the mopswab as shown may vary according to the manner in which adjacent cordsare intertwined.

[0024] According to the example of this specification, by which theinventive mop swab 10 is described in conjunction with a self-wringingtype mop, the mop swab 10 is fashioned as a sheet—that is, as asubstantially two-dimensional form—the opposing lateral edges of whichare interconnected, for instance by sewing, to define a generallycylindrical body having an open upper end 15 that encircles and isgathered about the slidable, rotatable sleeve 30 of the mop, forinstance by the employment of a tie, such as a length of cord, string,etc. (FIG. 1.) At an opposite, lower end 16 the interwoven cords 11, 12,13, etc. of the swab are likewise gathered together and secured to anend of the mop handle 20, for example by being sandwiched betweenaxially mateable halves of a threaded member as disclosed moreparticularly in U.S. Pat. No. 5,875,509. However, it will be appreciatedby those of skill that the means employed for fashioning the mop swaband fastening the same to a mop do not comprise part of the presentinvention, and may be varied as desired.

[0025] Because the present invention comprises a heretofore unknown mopswab of unique construction wherein adjacent cords are interwoven witheach other at intermittent points along their respective lengths todefine a reticular pattern, without the need for additionalinterconnecting means, such as ties or the like, to bind the cordstogether, it will be appreciated that the mop swab of the presentinvention improves significantly over the prior art in both economy ofmanufacture as well as utility.

[0026] Of course, the foregoing specification is merely illustrative ofthe present invention, and those of ordinary skill in the art willappreciate that many additions and modifications to the invention as setout in this disclosure are possible without departing from the spiritand broader aspects of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

The invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed isdefined as follows:
 1. A mop swab comprising a plurality of individualcords of suitably absorbent material of finite lengths, wherein adjacentcords are interwoven with each other at a plurality of intermittentpoints along their respective lengths to define a reticular pattern. 2.The mop swab of claim 1, wherein each of the individual cords isinterwoven with a first adjacent cord at a plurality of intermittentpoints along the length thereof, and further interwoven with a secondadjacent cord at a plurality of intermittent points along the lengththereof, and wherein further the plurality of intermittent pointsalternate between the first and second adjacent cords along the lengthof each individual cord.
 3. The mop swab of claim 2, wherein each ofsaid individual cords consists essentially of a single strand ofabsorbent material.
 4. The mop swab of claim 2, wherein each of saidindividual cords consists essentially of a plurality of strands ofabsorbent material which are intertwined to define a unitary materialelement.
 5. The mop swab of claim 4, characterized in that one or moreof the plurality of strands of absorbent material of adjacent cords areinterwoven at the plurality of intermittent points along theirrespective lengths to define the reticular pattern of the mop swab.
 6. Amop comprising a handle with first and second ends, the handle havingconnected thereto a mop swab comprising a plurality of individual cordsof suitably absorbent material of finite lengths, wherein adjacent cordsare interwoven with each other at intermittent points along theirrespective lengths to define a reticular pattern.
 7. The mop swab ofclaim 6, wherein each of the individual cords is interwoven with a firstadjacent cord at a plurality of intermittent points along the lengththereof, and further interwoven with a second adjacent cord at aplurality of intermittent points along the length thereof, and whereinfurther the plurality of intermittent points alternate between the firstand second adjacent cords along the length of each individual cord. 8.The mop swab of claim 7, wherein each of said individual cords consistsessentially of a single strand of absorbent material.
 9. The mop swab ofclaim 7, wherein each of said individual cords consists essentially of aplurality of strands of absorbent material which are intertwined todefine a unitary material element.
 10. The mop swab of claim 9,characterized in that one or more of the plurality of strands ofabsorbent material of adjacent cords are interwoven at the plurality ofintermittent points along their respective lengths to define thereticular pattern of the mop swab.
 11. The mop of claim 6, furthercomprising a sleeve rotatably and slidably disposed on the handle, andwherein said mop swab is both connected to said sleeve and connected toone of the first and second ends of said handle.
 12. The mop swab ofclaim 11, wherein each of the individual cords is interwoven with afirst adjacent cord at a plurality of intermittent points along thelength thereof, and further interwoven with a second adjacent cord at aplurality of intermittent points along the length thereof, and whereinfurther the plurality of intermittent points alternate between the firstand second adjacent cords along the length of each individual cord. 13.The mop swab of claim 12, wherein each of said individual cords consistsessentially of a single strand of absorbent material.
 14. The mop swabof claim 12, wherein each of said individual cords consists essentiallyof a plurality of strands of absorbent material which are intertwined todefine a unitary material element.
 15. The mop swab of claim 14,characterized in that one or more of the plurality of strands ofabsorbent material of adjacent cords are interwoven at the plurality ofintermittent points along their respective lengths to define thereticular pattern of the mop swab.